58 On the Ornithology of Wilts [^Ardeidw]. 



the neck is also considerably shorter, and the beak stouter than in 

 the preceding species. The Little Bittern is coinmon in the south- 

 east of Europe, as well as in Asia and North Africa ; is a migratory 

 bird; of solitary habits; and its usual position when at rest amidst 

 the reeds or aquatic herbage of a marsh, is that of sitting upon the 

 •whole length of the tarsus, with the neck bent, the head thrown 

 back, and the beak pointing almost perpendicularly upwards.^ 



"Bittern." {Botaurus stellaris.) Fifty years ago this species 

 was not uncommon in this country, wherever marsh or swamp or 

 fen invited its approach: now, however, it is gradually disappearing 

 before the march of agricultural improvements and the reclaiming 

 of waste lands, and bids fair to be very soon exterminated from 

 amongst us. I have notes of its occurrence in many parts of the 

 county, north and south ; and the late Rev. John Ward, Rector of 

 Great Bedwyn, informed me that a specimen taken in that pariah 

 exceeded in beauty of plumage any he had ever beheld. The last 

 Wiltshire specimen which I myself have seen, was killed at Enford, 

 and was in the hands of Mr. Withers, at Devizes, who was preserv- 

 ing it for Mr. Stratton. It is a very handsome bird, and the mix- 

 ture of various shades of buff and brown, spotted, speckled and 

 barred in every direction is particularly pleasing. The cry of the 

 Bittern, which is a hoarse booming sound or bellowing, when heard 

 on a dark night in the lonely retreats which that bird loves, had a 

 startling effect on the hearer, and was strangely weird and un- 

 earthly. Like many other members of this family it is a solitary 

 bird, and lies concealed in the rank herbage of a swamp during the 

 day, emerging at*^ twilight to hunt for food in the marshes. Its 

 flesh was very highly esteemed when the bird was better known 

 than it is now. 



"White Stork." {Ciconia alba.) It is very sad that this bird, 

 80 ready to be familiar with man, and which may be seen in 

 Holland and Germany building its nest on the roofs of houses, 

 and meeting that encouragement and protection which its confidence 

 deserves, should be scared away from England by the persecution 

 it has met with here. And yet the White Stork is not only 

 ^ Selby in loco. 



